Cheap flights to Cairns

Peak season

Cairns has a tropical climate which is divided into a ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ season, with the peak tourist season coinciding with the ‘dry’ season and the Australian winter months of June through to August. Not only are domestic tourists heading north to escape the cold weather in the south of Australia, but many European and North American visitors arrive on their long annual vacation.

Lower temperatures and humidity during this period do make sightseeing much more pleasant, however, and there is far less rainfall or chance of cyclones. In addition, there are no ‘stinger’ jellyfish in the water, meaning you can swim on the beaches and go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef relatively care free.

Off season

September is a great time to visit if you want to take advantage of off season deals while the weather is still at its best, but by October things start to heat up and thunderstorms are common in the lead up to the monsoon rains. From November to May cyclones can be expected and the highest rainfall normally occurs during the Australian summer months of December through to February.

The advantage of visiting during this period is not only great accommodation and flight deals, but also seeing the waterfalls and rivers of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation rainforests in all their glory, as well as fantastic white water rafting on the Tully River. Diving is also excellent on the Great Barrier at this time, with calm winds and excellent visibility.

If you want to avoid the majority of the rains and the crowds, then opt to travel in April/May at the start of the ‘dry’ season when some cheap flight tickets are often found.

How long is the flight to Cairns?

Flights from Auckland to Cairns – 6 hours.

Flights from Christchurch to Cairns – 8 hours 25 minutes.

Flights from Wellington to Cairns – 8 hours 20 minutes.

Flights from Queenstown to Cairns – 9 hours 20 minutes.

Which airlines operate flights to Cairns?

You can get direct flights to Cairns from Auckland with Philippine Airlines who fly the route four times a week, or opt to connect through Brisbane with Qantas or Virgin Australia who both offer onward flights to Cairns. From Christchurch and Wellington there are a number of different airline combinations to choose from, including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, all of which connect through either Sydney or Brisbane. Virgin generally offers the cheapest flights to Cairns, but good deals can be found with the other airlines if you book early.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

The Cairns Airport is located around 7 kilometres to the northwest of the Cairns CBD in the suburb of Aeroglen. There is a public bus that services the airport, connecting passengers at Sheridan Street with services going both north and south, and tickets can be bought at kiosks within the airport terminal.

A more expensive, but hassle-free, option is the airport shuttle bus that takes you directly to your hotel door. No pre-booking is required and you can buy your tickets at the counters located within the terminal building.

The fastest, but most expensive, route into the city is with a metered taxi which depart from ranks outside the Cairns Airport terminal and will have you in the CBD in around 10 minutes. They offer wheel chair capable vehicles and electronic payment facilities, and you can either pre-book or just turn up.

What is good to know if travelling to Cairns?

• It may be one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, but a holiday in Cairns doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Here are our top tips on how to do “Cairns and Port Douglas on a Budget”
• Drive south from Cairns for around two hours and you will get to magnificent Mission Beach, not only one of the most perfect stretches of sand in Australia, but also one of the best places to go skydiving, with the Great Barrier Reef sprawling out below you!
• The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, extending north and south along the coast from Cairns, and home to an astounding diversity of marine life. For many tourists it is the main reason they visit Cairns and that’s why diving the Great Barrier Reef makes our list of “Top 20 Things to Do in Australia”.
• Need some help choosing a dive site? We think Cod Hole on the Great Barrier Reef is up there with the best in Australia, with sightings of potato rock cod, white tip reef sharks, giant clams and moray eels.

What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns?

Travellers will need to book flights to Cairns (CNS) if they wish to fly to Cairns. The Cairns airport is 4.4 km from the city centre.